BUTLER, Pa. - The Clarion baseball team played host to Slippery Rock at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa. on Friday afternoon, falling in both ends of the doubleheader by scores of 11-2 and 5-2. Clarion (10-25) will look to take a win from "The Rock" tomorrow when they close out the final two games at Jack Critchfield Park on the campus of Slippery Rock. 

Game 1: Slippery Rock 11, Clarion 2 
Recap: Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, using a pair of walks and a double to plate all three runs. Slippery Rock added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, using a homerun and a single to to score the runners and take a commanding 5-0 lead. 

The Golden Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning after a Caden Contant groundout scored Kasey Shughart to make the score 5-1. 

Shughart started the inning reaching on an error by the Slippery Rock shortstop and after a single from Matt Privette and a miscue in "The Rock" outfield, Clarion found themselves with two runners in scoring position with no outs in the inning. 

After Contant scored Shughart, the Clarion offense started to spin their wheels, stranding Privette at second base. 

Slippery Rock put the game further out of reach in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three more runs on three hits to make the score 8-1 with just two more chances for Clarion to scored at the plate. 

The Blue and Gold answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 8-2, using two hits to score the run. Shughart doubled to left center field and after a Contant walk, Danny Fox singled up the middle to drive in Shughart from third base. 

"The Rock" added three more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to almost guarantee there was no threat of a comeback, using three hits to score three runs to stretch the lead to 11-2. 

Bryce Grenet got the start for Clarion on the mound, tossing 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out two batters. 

With only three hits in the game, Shughart, Privette and Fox paced the Clarion attack. 

Game 2: Slippery Rock 5, Clarion 2
Recap: Clarion took the lead early, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning, using two hits to make the score 1-0. Privette singled to put one runner on base and advanced to third base after a Daren Byers double down the left field line. After a Contant sac fly, Privette scored to give Clarion the early lead. 

Clarion held the lead until the top of the fourth inning, when the Slippery Rock bats exploded for five runs on six hits using station to station baseball to build their lead and take charge 5-1. 

Clarion pulled back within striking distance in the bottom of the fifth inning after three hits in the inning allowed the Golden Eagles to make the score 5-2. 

Griffin Snyder singled up the middle to give the Blue and Gold their first baserunner of the inning and after a Brett Pitzer single through the left side, Clarion was rolling with two runners on base. 

Shughart singled to right field to score Snyder from second base as Clarion made the score 5-2, but that's all the closer Clarion could get as Luke Trueman closed things out on the mound for "The Rock"

Trevor McGee got the nod for Head Coach Doc Neiman in game two, tossing 4.1 innings, surrendering five runs on nine hits, walking five and striking out three. Anthony Tucci logged the rest of the innings for Clarion, throwing 2.2 inning, allowing just one hit, striking out two batters. 

Contant and Shughart paced the Clarion attack each driving in a run, while Byers went two for three on the day at the plate. 

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